Parents plead not guilty in child harm cases

MEDINA — Two people accused of harming their children pleaded not guilty Monday in Medina County Common Pleas Court.

Terry Boyle

Terry Boyle, 32, of Medina, is charged with trying to smother her 6-year-old son with a pillow.

Boyle is charged with attempted murder and felonious assault — punishable by 11 or more years in prison.

Common Pleas Judge James L. Kimbler transferred her case to Judge Christopher Collier’s courtroom last week, explaining he worried he would be accused of impropriety because of a series of emails sent to him from an online petition to acquit Boyle.

In the petition, she said she put a couch pillow on her son’s head for a “split second” to stop him fighting with his younger sister.

Boyle’s trial was scheduled for Dec. 11. She’s free on bond from the county jail.

Christian Vanmeter

Christian Vanmeter, 20, is accused of abusing his infant child.

Vanmeter’s charges are felonious assault and child endangering, with a possible prison sentence of eight years or more.

He is accused of neglecting and abusing his 3½-month-old child in June.

The investigation began after sheriff’s deputies were dispatched in early July to a hospital, where the child was staying.

Nick Glunt primarily covers courts and crime in Medina County. He has been with The Gazette since September 2012 and also serves as the newspaper's web editor. Contact him at (330) 721-4048 or via email at nglunt@medina-gazette.com.